Narendra Modi wants to repay country's debt

Gandhinagar, April 4: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that he had repaid the debt of Gujarat and now people were expecting him to repay the country's debt. Political observers felt it was yet another hint given by Modi that he was eyeing the post of the prime minister.

The Gujarat chief minister, who is set to play a leading role in the BJP's mission for 2014 Lok Sabha elections, hasn't made a clear pitch for the top post so far but his statement made on Thursday assumed significance, more because it coincided with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi spoke to the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), outlining his vision for the country.

Modi said he both had supporters and detractors. He said people might or might not like him but there are many who praise his model of economic development.

The leader, who came to power for the third consecutive time in Gujarat last December, said it was good to see that the government's functioning was being analysed on the basis of development.